Part 4 of 5 - Esther - An Orphan becomes Queen

Part 4 of 5 - Esther - An Orphan who becomes Queen

Chapter 7

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet and were drinking wine and on the second day, the King asked again to Queen Esther, “ What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”  Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found your favor and if it pleases you, grant me my life - this is my petition and spare my people - this is my request.”

“ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated.  If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who dared do such a thing?”

Esther replied, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman became terrified, The King got up in a rage and went into the palace garden. 

But Haman realized the King had decided his fate and stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 

Just then the king returned from the garden to the banquet hall and saw Haman falling on the queen’s couch where she was reclining and stated to Haman.

“Will thou molest the queen while she is right here in the house with me?” Haman looked very guilty. What a predicament he must have felt he was in. 

Then two of the king’s men told the king that Haman had already erected a 50 cubit pole to impale Mordecai on and the pole was next to his house.  The king said, “Impale him on it.”

So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, then the king’s fury subsided. 

Chapter 8 

That same day the king gave Esther the estate that belonged to Haman, the enemy of the Jews.  Then King Xerxes allowed Mordecai to come before the presence of the king for Esther had told the king how he was related to her.

The king took off his signet ring which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai.  And Esther appointed Mordecai over Haman’s estate.

Esther again presented herself to the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman that he had already issued to kill every Jewish person in the land,  Sh requested that the king issue a new order overruling the edict that the King had previously written at the request of Haman.

She begged for the mercy of her family and her people. King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai, that he would issue another decree that granted Jews the right to assembly and to protect themselves and to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children. 

The decree went out to all 127 provinces, which was sealed with the king’s royal signet that was prepared by his royal secretaries. The decree also gave the Jews authority to plunder the property of their enemies. This edict became law among all the nations of the king.

When Mordecai left the presence of the king, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white and a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. The city held a joyous and grand celebration for him.

There was gladness, feasting and celebration among all the Jews. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this story…..in part 5 of 5